Short communication The Lophius budegassa component of monkfish catches in Scottish waters

To date, research efforts on Lophius species in waters around Scotland (ICES Divisions IVa, VIa, and VIb) have focused almost exclu-sively on Lophius piscatorius. Here, the characteristics and distribution of the Lophius budegassa component of the catch are described using data collected by observers during commercial fishing trips and scientific surveys on chartered commercial fishing vessels between 1998 and 2006. At Rockall Bank (VIb), L. budegassa were rare, just 0.1 % of the catch of Lophius spp., whereas west of Scotland (VIa) and around the Shetland Islands (IVa), they made up 18 and 2 % of catches, respectively, with greatest prevalence towards the shelf edge. Fish length ranged from 16 to 89 cm with a modal length at 40 cm. Greater proportions of large individuals were recorded around the Shetland Islands than in other parts of the study area. Overall, the sex ratio was 1:1, and lengths at 50% maturity were estimated to be 70.4 cm for females and 49.4 cm for males